Mechanical stoker.



D. F.-HERVEY.

MECHANICAL STOKER.

APPLIOATION FILED Nov, 12, 1909,

966,547. Patented Aug. 9, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. m g I I GUM/H013 D. I. HERVEY.

MECHANICAL STOKER.

APPLICATION PILED'HOV. 12, 1909.

966,547, Patented Aug. 9, 1910.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

anucui'oz W I Jamal 929F176 D. F. HERVEY'.

- MECHANICAL STOKER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 12, 1909.

Patented Aug. 9, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

amva-ntoz A. Z553 Eli/4m DAVID .E. HERVE-Y, or LoeAiisron r, INDIANA.

. MEoHAN cAI. sroxna.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 9, 1910.

Application filed November 12, 1909. Serial No. 527,654.

To all whom "it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID F. HERVEY, a

' citizen of the United States of America, and

resident of Logansport, in the county of Cass and State of\Indiana,haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanical Stokers,ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inmechanical stokers and while designed primarily for use upon locomotivesor 1n connection with locomotive boilers, it is to be understood that itis as applicable to stationary boilers and all other devices of likenature where, it is desired to feed the fuel mechanically.

The present invention has for its objects among others to provide. asimple, eflicient, economical, yet reliable means for mechanicallystoking, which shall economize space and which can readily bedisconnected, removed, or set'aside to permit of ordinary hand firingwhen occasion may require.

It has "for a further object to provide a reliable and efficient deviceof this nature having provision for the distribution of the fuel ascircumstances may require, for instance, at times when it becomesdesirable to feed to only'one side, and then again only to the other,and at other times it may be necessary to supply the fuel nearer to orfarther from the rear end of the fire box. I provide for this by varyingthe speed'of rotation of the rotary member which delivers the feedthrough the fire door and for reversal of the direction of rotation,whereby the desired end s accomplished in a simple and eflicient manner.I provide also for the accomplishment of thisend by providing differentshaped plates for removable attachment to the outer periphery of therotary member by means of which the fuel is delivered indifierent'positions and in different. ways to suit the diversityof fireboxes and to adapt it to the varying conditions under which the same maybe used.

I provide also for ready inspection of the fire at any time, as well asfor the introduction of a poker or hook for leveling the fuel.

l provide also for ready disconnection or removal of the spout disposedintermediate the elevator or conveyer and the hopper, and I aim also atimprovements in the details of construction whereby the desired ends areattainedin a more efiicient and satisfactory manner and the cost ofmanufacture and application of the apparatus reduced to a mlnlmum.

The improvement and its application is such that it in no wiseinterferes with the shaking of the grates, and when disconnected ormoved aside, the engine may be fired as in the ordinary form.

Otherobjects-and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear andthe novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in theappended claims. The invention, in its preferred form, is clearlyillustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the numerals ofreference marked thereon, form a part of this specification, and inwhich-- Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section thr ugh the adjacentportions of a locomotive deck and tender, showing the application of mypresent improvements. Fig. 2 is a top plan with portions broken away.Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, lookinginthe direction of the arv delivery member, showing a modified form ofdelivery plates. 6 is a similar view showing plates of a different form.Fig. 7

isa similar view showing a modified form of the member itself and adifferent form of delivery plate. Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6,showing still another form of delivery plate. Fig. 9 is an end elevationof the door for closing the outlet from the hopper, its shaft beingshown in section. Fig. 10 is a detail in elevation, looking in the direction of the arrow 10 in Fig.1. Fig. 11 is an enlarged face view of thefire door and the parts carried thereby. Fig. 12 is a vertical .csection from front to rear, showing the revoluble distributer thrown upand the door thrown open.

Like numerals'of reference indicate like parts throughout the difierentviews.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the tender, 2 the deck thereof,3 the fire box of the boiler 4 which may be of any of the well-knowntypes, and 5 the enginedeck, 6

being the ordinary apron bridging the'spac'e between the adjacent endsof the decks 2 and 5. I

I 1 *7 designates the front end of the coal bin,

l I 8 being the fuel-or coal. 'In the space'9, forward of the coal bin,I arrange my conveyer or elevator. This' consists of an endless chain'lOcarrying the buckets 0r conveyers 1 1, of-any of thefwell-known orapproved forms of construction, designed to take the coal from the binjandycarry it'upward and deliver it into the chute, soon to bedescribed, from which it is conveyed to the hopperand thence, by meansof the rotary member, into 'the opening, in the fire box. The chain orcarrier 10 passes around a sprocket wheel 12 carried by a shaft 13 atthe upper end of the bulk head and around a sprocket wheel 14 carried bya shaft 15', journaled; at the lower end thereof. Theconveyer isdisposed or inclosed within a casing 16, as shown.

17 1s a plate or the like forming a pit in which the lower sprocketwheel-is received and into which the. coal is received through theopening in the frontof the coal 'bin in position to be readily takenup'by the buckets 11 of the conveyer 10. I,

The upper shaft may be supported in any suitable Way, in the presentinstance being .shown as. mounted in a bearing on the that there is, ofcourse, one of these upon, .each side of the bulk head.

bracket or plate 18 securely bolted to the side wall of the bulk head,itbeing understood 19 is an inclined chute on which the, fuel 15 conveyedfrom the elevator or conveyor to the hopper.- At its upper end.thischute is provided with the extensions 20, which are pivotally connected,asat 21, with the eccentrics or the like 22 onthe shaft 13. These partsare so timed that the chute is given a back and forth reciprocation o-rmOtlOIl for each revolution of the shaft 13. The forward movementof thechute is designed to occur at a time just before the adjacent-"elevatorbucket moves upon the descending side of the carrier or chain. Thisreciprocation or oscillation of the chute keeps the fuel in constantmotion and prevents blo'gging of the same. While -it is desi ed that allof the fuel delivered by the hue ets shall be received in the chute,should there be any overflowing oryan delivered-into the chute it willbe collected withinthe casing 16 and all down maths pit beam a6 lowersprocket .wheel 14,-Where it "will bef-taken up 6-5 by the buckets. Whennot in use, the chute 19 can be thrown up out ofthe-way, by reason ofits pivotal connection with the eccentrics, as'w'illbe readilyunderstood. In

order to guide the forwardend of the chute pos- I and decrease thefriction, as much. as sible, I- provide aroller or rollers-23 mounted onthe rear end of the hopper, soon to be de;;

scribed, and upon which-the lower end of the chute rests, as willbe-clearly understood uponreference to-Fig. 1.

The chute 19 is preferably provided with a hinged forward portion 24,hinged upon .the under side, as shown at 25, so that the same may befolded downwardly, when de- 0 "'si'red' to permit .of then ward foldinof the chute and clearance of thecab roo 26 is a bar extending acrossthe top of the chute at a point approximately adjacent its connectionwith the eccentrics, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2. This servesnot' only as aban? dle by which the chute maybe elevated or manipulated, but it servesal'sojas a mean; for stopping and preventing flow of lumps of coal orfuel too large. to be properly taken a care of by the rotary deliverymember, soon to be described. Any, lump too-lair eto pass belowthiscross bar 26 is stoppe thereby and can be readily removed and brokenup or thrown back into the tender; Y

be deflected when desired to either one side orthe other, so as'to bedelivered to oneside I only of the fire box, I provide a deflector -23;

pivotally mounted, as at 28, in any suitable 1'20 manner, and the pivotprovided with 'a suitable spring lock, as seen at 29, so as to hold thedeflector in any of its adjusted positions.

Ordinarily, when it is desired to feed the fuel evenly to the fire box,thedeflector will be held in lon itudi'nal alinementwith the *chute, asseen n full lines in Fig. 2. When it is desired to feed the fuel to oneside only,

or theother of the fire box, the' deflector is moved upon its pivot toone'=s1de or the other,

as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. '2, so as to close theexit from thechute upon one side and leave the other side open, through which thefuel will'be delivered.

Motion may be imparted to the elevator or conveyer in any suitablemanner. In the present instance, I have shown a-subs'tantially verticalshaft 30 designed tov receive its motion from an engine or prime motoron the boiler head or some other convenient location. This. engine orprime motor-will soon be described, but for the timebeing it issuflicient to. state that the-shaft 3Qis revolved and that-upon itslower end ;it car-f ries a bevel pinion 31 that meshes with a' bevelpinion. 32 on the substantially ,hori--- In order that 'thefuel from thechute may motion.

zontal shaft 33 mounted in suitable hearings in the framing of the"decks 2 and 5, as shown clearl in' Fig.1. This shaft has, preferably aacent the rear end of the deck of. the locomotive, a universal coupling34 to compensate for side motion or curves or curved paths or vertical,movements due to various causes, while the locomotive is in The rear endof this shaft telescopes Within the tubular-portion 35' of a shaft 36mounted in suitable bearings beneath the deck 2 of the tender andcarrying upon its rear end a bevel pinion 37 meshing with a bevel pinion38 on the shaft 15. It will thus be understood that as the shaft 30 isrevolved, motion is imparted to the shaft 15 and, consequently, to thecarrier or chain 10, and to the buckets 11, whereby the fuel is elevatedby said buckets and deposited upon the chute 19.

The shaft 30 carries at its upper end a bevel pinion 39, which mesheswith a pinion 40 onthe end of the portion 41 of the crank shaft 41 ofthe-engine, which may be of any form of construction suitable for thepurpose. I prefer to employ a double cylinder reversible marine engine,such, for instance as that known as the Kriebel although it is to beunderstood-that the invention is in no wise restricted to sudh form ofengine. Of such an engine, the shaft e1, just mentioned, is the crankshaft and further description of such engine is not deemed necessary, itbeing understood that the shaft is given motion by suitable con-'nections, as seen at 42 and 43, between the cranks and the pistons ofthe engine' Actuation of this crank shaft imparts motion to the shaft 15carrying the lower sprocket wheel of the elevator or conveyer, throughthe medium of the bevel pinions 40, 39, shaft 30, bevel pinions 31, 32,shaft 33, 36 andthe bevel pinions 37 and 38, in a manner which will bereadily understood and which will be apparent from an examination ofFig.1. On the other'end of the crank-shaft 41 of the engine is asprocket wheel 44: around which passes a-sprocket chain 45, which, inturn, passes around a sprocket wheel 46 on the shaft 47, by means ofwhich motion is imparted to the rotary delivering device, soon to bedescribed. The engine is suitably supported uponthe top of the fire boxdoor frame and suitably secured to the boiler head, so as to beperfectlyrigid.

48 is a hopper. It is supported at the fire door and. is introducedbetween the forward end of the chute 19 and the opening 49, throughwhich the fuel is to be fed, to the fire .box. It is fitted to rest uponthe shaft 47 and is secured to the engine foundation, as shown at 50.This is but one of the many ways in which the hopper might be supportedin its proper position and the invention is in no wise restricted to themanner of-support-ing said hopper. It can be readily "1'611'10V8d at anytime by removing the fastcnings 50, sh as to adapt the device for handfiring when necessary and to per- 'mit of swinging with the door and theparts carried thereby.- Thishopper may be of any suitable form, beingprovided with a central partition and sloping sides, as seen at 51 and52 in Fig. 2, so as to conduct the fuel to opposite sides of the hopperas the fuel is delivered thereto from the chute 19'. When other, thefuel will-all be delivered upon, the one or the other of the slopingsides 52 of this central partition and delivered to one side only of thehopper.

I the deflector 27 is turned to one side or the The revolubledistributer is disposed with I in a suitable casing53. This casing ispivotally mounted, as at 54,- to a detachable door frame '55 which maybe at any time readily removed and the ordinary fire door,

which is set aside during the use of the apparatus herein described, putin its place.

,This casing, together with the revoluble distributer, may at any timebe thrown up into the position in which 'it is seen in Fig. 12,

and the door frame 55 may be swung around upon its hinges, as seen insaid Fig. 12, to

entirely disclose the opening 49 for inspection of the boiler or anyother purpose. This frame is hinged at 56, the pintle 57 beingremovably. engaged between the eyes of the hinges of the door frame andsuitable the boiler head. By reeyes or lugs 58 on the door frame and itsmoval of this pintle,

accessories may be entirely removed in a veryshort space of time.

The revoluble distributer comprises a central hub or sleeve 59, fromwhich radiate the arms 60, in this instance shown as four, but thisnumber is not obligatory, and on the outer ends of these arms arecarried the bars 61 which extend parallel with the hub or sleeve 59 andare, preferably, provided with openings 62 for the attachment ofdiiferent forms of distributer plates, when necessary.

This hub is secured to the shaft 47 in any suitable manner, as, forinstance, by a set screw63, as seen in Fig. 4. In order to form adivision substantially at the center of the revoluble member abovedescribed,

and toprevent the coarser coal from passing from one side to the otherwhen one side of the fire box only is being fed, I provide the bars orp1ates'645 which connect adjoining bars 61 at the center of thedistributer, the mep1bers64 extending at right angles to the bars 61 andjoining and staying the latter bars. This will be clearly understoodupon reference to Fig. 4. T

Under normalconditions, the distributer i is employed as seen in Fig. l,but should circumstances require, I propose to attach to the bars 61, byutilizing the openings 62 therein provided for this purpose, distributerplates, several different forms of which are illustrated in Figs. 5 to 8inclusive. In

Fig. 5, the plates 65 are shown as angularly disposed with their outersurfaces divergent from the periphery inward. In Fig. 6, simillar plates66 are shown but oppositelydisposed, that is, with their" outer endsdivergent. In Fig. 7, Ihave shown plates 67, which are concave, while inFig. 8 I have shown plates 68 which are convex. These are detachableandinterchangeable and the form best suited to the conditions existingcan be readily applied, these conditions being varied according to thecharacter of the locomotive and other circumstances.

In Fig. 7, the general form of the body portion of the rotarydistributer is shown as circular instead of polygonal, as seen at 69.

- The purpose and mode of operation, however, is the same in trated.

The casing 53, in whose ends the shaft 47 all of the forms illusismounted, isiprovided upon its outer por-' tion with a door 70, 'hinged,'asat7l, to the casing. It isprovided with a suitable dampered opening72, to give light on-the deck and to admit air to the casing and to thefire.- By throwing this door 7 Qup'on its hinge, the fire may beinspected, and, if necessary, a 'fire hook or poker may be introduced tostir the vfire or level the fuel within the fire box. Any suitable meansmay be employed for locking the door 70 in its closed position.

Fuel 'fnfin the hopper is fed into the easing 53 to be acted upon by thedis'tributer therein, through openings in the opposite ends. of thecasing, In order to close these openings, when desired, to stop the flowof fuel and-also to prevent ingress of air, I

rovide at each end a revoluble damper or door 7 3, seen best detached inFig. 9. I This door is revolubly mounted upon the shaft 47 and jhas anopening 74- formed-by the removal of a'portion of said d'oor. Thedistanoe betweenadjacentside walls of this opening at the periphery ofthe damper or door is equal to. the feed opening at the bot-: tom of thehopper. When feeding fuel, this door is in such position that theopening 74 the interior of the casing, it being -understood that theopening in the simially connected, as at 77, with'the horizhntal rod 78,to which are pivotally'connected, as

at 79 and 80 respectively, one arm of each ofthe bell cranks 8 1 and 82.-These bellcranks are-pivotally mounted, as at 83 and 84: respectively,on suitable brackets or other supports on theboiler. The ends of. the

other arms of the bell crank levers are pivotal'lyconnected, as at'85and 86, with rods, links or the like 87 and 88, the. other ends of whichare suitably connected each-with a door 79. From the above, when takenin connection w1th Fig. 3, it will be seen that in the position of thelever indicated, the

doors will be in such position that their openings 74 will be coincidentwith the openings in the-ends of the casing and the bottom of thehoppers. Manipulation of the lever in one direction or the other will,through the medium ofthe means just described,. turn the doorssimultaneously on their pivots, so as to bring solid portions thereofopposite the openings in the ends of. I the casing. The lever' 75 isprovidedwith a suitable'pawl for engagement with-the teeth of a segment89, as 'seenin Fig. 2, to lock the same in either of its adjustedpositions, so as to prevent accidental m9 of the doors. a

The operation of the elevator or conveyer can be readily controlled bythe engineer or fireman within the cab. One eflicient means for thispurpose embodies a clutch 90 onthe portion 41 of the crankshaft 41' andcontrollable by a rod 91 and connection 92 pivotally ,mounted. at 93, onany fixed art. Manipulation of this rod to throw the c utch members intoengagement insures actuation of the conveyer or elevator when the engineis running, so that the shaft 41 is revolved. By movement of the rod91jii1 the opposite direction, so as to disengage the clutch members,the shaft 41- is caused to revolve? without actuation of the shaft 30and the parts "operated thereby.

With the parts constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbeforedesd'ibed and as shoWnin'the accompanying drawin s, the

operation will 'be apparent, and, riefly stated, is as follows :It is tobe understood that the engine 94 is rigidly mounted upon emen'tjf eitherthe engine has a sufficiently rigid and firm center or front ing ' theingress of air.

foundation. Whenit is desired to feed fuel to the fire box, the engineis started.

Through the medium of the connections hereinbefore described, motion isimparted to the elevator or conveyer and to the rotary distributer. Thefuel 96 is taken up by the buckets 11 and as the buckets turn at theupper end of the elevator, the fuel is deposited into the chute 19. Thischute is agitated by reason of its connection with the eccentrics 22, ashereinbefore described, and the coal passes down the chute and into thehopper. Any large lumps too bi to, pass beneath thecross bar 26 arestopped thereby, one of such lumps being indicated at 97 in Fig. 1 asstopped by such cross barf After falling into the hopper,'the coal istaken up by the plates of the rotary distributer after falling tothelower portion of the casing 53. If it is desired to deposit the fueltoward the end of the fire box, the rotary conveyer is revolved in thedirection of the arrow seen in Fig. 1, so that the fuel is thrown upwardand upon a curve into the fire box, the'fuel being thrown a greater orless distance through the-opening 49 according to the speed with whichthe distributer is revolved. If it is desired to deposit the fueladjacent the opening 49 into the fire box, the distributer is revolvedvery slowly in the direction of the arrow in Fi 1, or by reversingrapidly the direction of rotation, the fuel is taken up by the plates ofthe distributer and held to the outer surface or periphery thereof andthen deposited just inside of the fire box, as indicated by theelongated dotted arrow in Fi 1. It is to be understood that while feeing fuel, the doors 73 are open, that is in such position that theiropenings 74- are coincident with the openings .in the ends of the casing53 and of the hoppers. has been fed, the lever 75 is moved so as to givethe doors 7 3 a partial revolution, bringsolid portions thereof oppositethe sa1d openings in the'ends of the casing and hop pers, thus closingoff communication between the hoppers and the casing and shutting ofi Assoon as sufiicient fuel has beenfed, the rod 91 is moved so as todisengage the clutch members 90 and motion is no longer imparted to theshaft 30 and movement of the conveyer or elevator is stopped. The clutchis arranged to start or stop the'conveyer at the will of the operator asit is not my desire to feed the coal constantly, but rather to fill thehopper, then to disengage clutch 90, so that the engine and distributermay be run at any desired speed in either forward or reverse direction,the

When suflicient fuel reversing features of the engine determines thedirection of rotation of the distributer.

The action of the revoluble doors 7 3 will be seen best detached inFig.9. These doors are to be closed when it becomes desirable to fillthe hopper with coal or to stop the flow of fuel into-the casing 53 Sothat when it is necessary to reverse the direction of the distributer toplace coal in the back/ corners of the fire box, these doors 72 areclosed. The engine is started, clutch 90 is engaged to .start conveyermachinery to fill hopper and after sufiicient coalhas been placed in thehopper, the clutch 90 is disengaged by moving the rod 91. Then theengine is reversed, doors 73 opened to admit the coal which will becarried around casing 53 and deposited in either or both' of the backcorners,.as desired, remembering that if both sides of the hopper arefilled, both back corners of the fire box will be replenished, whereasif one side only of the hopper is filled, the correspondingback corneronly in the fire box will be fed with fuel. The same method may beemployed when it is desired to run the distributer in the forward orusual direction.

If at any time it is desired to view the condition of the fire, the door70 may be opened and if necessary the -fire may be stirred or the fuelevened by means of a fire hook or poker introduced through the opening.

The rotary distributer is employed either in the form shown in Fig. 4,in which case the bars 61 serve to act upon the fuel, or

it may be equipped with any one of the forms of distributer platesillustrated in Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 according to the circumstances. Thefuel can be thrown toward the sides or toward the center of the fire boxby using the forms of plates seen in Figs. 5- and 6, while by theemployment of the form of plates seen in Fig. 7 the fuel.

would be thrown farther toward the front end of the fire box. By use ofthe form of plates seen in Fig. 8, the fuel would be depositedapproximately at' the longitudinal center of the fire box. Theseforms-of plates will be used according to the needs of the engines whichvary greatly in this respect. WheIi desired the chute may be thrown upon its pivots out of the way, the foldingportion 24 moving on its pivot25 so as not to strike the roof of. the cab.

When from any cause it should bedesired to adapt the locomotive for handfiring, the hopper is first removed, then the auxillary door canbe'swung around on its hinges, as indicated in Fig. 12, and the casing53 with the rotary distributer thrown up, as indicated in sa1d v1ew,'or,if desired,- the entire auxiliary door with the distributencan beentirely removed by withdrawing the pin'tle 57, and the regular firedoor substituted therefor.

A door calrbeswung on its hinges and the distributer casing thrownintothe desired position by simply disconnecting the chain 45and-separating the connections between the links 87 and the slotted endsof the bell crank levers. l v From the above it'will'be seen that I havedevised a simple,.cheap, econom1cal,efiic1ent and reliablemechanicalstoker, which can be .readily applied and which occupies minimum space,and while the structural embodiment of theinvention as herein disclosedis what I at'the present time consider preferable, it is evident thatthe same is subject to changes, variations'and modifications in detail,proportlons' and relatlve arrangement of parts vwlthout departing fromthe spirit of the invention or sacrificingany of its advantages. I,therefore, do not wish'nor-intend to limit myself to' the preciseconstruction, etc., hereinbefore described and shown, but reserve theright to make such changes,

variations and modifications as come propthe scope of the protectionbars and removable, and interchangeable blades, each blade havingopposltely dlsposed acting faces inclined with relation to the bar andto.each. other.

' 2. Ina mechanical stoker, the combination of'a furnace having a firedoor opening a fire door for said opening hinged to said furnace andadapted to be swung laterally,

a rotary distributer and a casing'therefor t1on of a furnace having afire, door open ng a fire door for said opening hinged to the pivotallymounted on the fire door to swing upward over the fire door and againstthe boiler front when the door is opened, and

means for rotating said distributer.

3. In amechanical stoker, a rotary distributer having an'axis, a casingfor said distributer withend openings, means for rotat ing saiddistributer in either direction to throw the fuel'well'into the fire boxor to deposit it adjacent the door opening and movable closures at theends of said distributer casing and revolub'ly mounted on the axis ofthe distributer for closing said openings.

4. In a mechanical stoker, the combination of a furnace having a firedoor openingflaafir'e door 'for said opening hinged to the furnace andadapted to swing laterally, a

rotary distributerhaving an axis and blades for direct engagement withthe fuel, a casing for said distributer hinged to the fire door 'toswing upwardly against the furnace front when the door is opened, saidcasing pro,

vided with end openings, and revoluble closures for said openingsmounted on the axis of the distributer. I 5. In a mechanical s toker,the 'combination of a furnace having a fire door opening a rotarydistributer, a fire door for said openfing hinged to the furnaceand'adapted to swing laterally, a casing pivoted t9 swing upward againstthe furnace front when the fire door is opened, and having end openings,1 ahopper; opening'into the casing, and 010- sures for the said openingsmounted on the axis of the 'distributer at'the ends'of the casing. v

6. In a mechanical toker, a rotary. distrib- 'uter, a casing thereforwith end openings,

closures for-said openings, and means for s1multaneously actuating saidclosures.

- 7. In a mechanical Stoker, a rotary distributer, a .casingthereforwith end openings,-

adivided hopper communicating with the casing through said openings,closures simultaneously actuated for controlling said openings, andactuating means connecting said closures. y V 8. Ina mechanical stoker,a rotary distributer, a casing thereforwith end openings, a dividedhopper communicatin' withthe casing through said openings, c osuresf forsaid openings, means for revolubly mounting saidclosures, and meansconnecting said closures for. simultaneously actuating them.

' 9. In a mechanical 'stoker, a pivotally mounted casing, a rotarydistributer therein and movable therewith, and single means.

mounted above the fire door for continuously revolving and giving itvarying speeds and for reversing the direction of rotation thereof.

10. In a mechanical Stoker, the combina 7 furnace and adapted to swinglaterally, a continuously revoluble distributor, a casing thereforhinged to the fire door to swing upwardly against the furnace front whensaid door is opened and having end open- -1ngs and a movable door, andmeans revolubly mounted on the axis of the discontinuously revolubledistributer mounted opposite to the fire door to swing upward over saiddoor against the' furnace front when said door is opened and having amov-- able door whereby inspection of the fire is afforded andsimultaneously actuated closures.

12. In a mechanical s toker, the combina tion of a furnace having a firedoor opening a fire door for said opening'hinged to the furnace andadapted to swing in a horizontal plane, a rotary distributer hinged tosaid door to move verticallyover the fire. door against the furnacefront when said .tributer is mounted, and a hopper removably supportedin juxtaposition to and partially upon said casing, opposite the firedoor.

l4. In a mechanical stoker, the combination of a furnace having a firedoor opening, a fire door for said opening hinged to the furnace andadapted to be swung laterally, a rotary distributer, a casing thereforpivotally mounted to swing upward over the fire door against the furnacefront when said door is opened, a door for said casing opposite the firedoor and provided with a damper and simultaneously actuated closures atthe ends of the casing.

15. In amechanical stoker, a rotary distributer, a hopper, a chutepivotally mounted above said hopper, to swing upward and emptying intothe hopper, and means for automatically oscillating the chute. Y

1-6. In a mechanical stoker, a rotary distributer,.a hopper partiallyembracing the same, a chute having its dischar e end resting on thehopper, and means or hinging the chute, and a cross bar on said chuteadjacent its hinge.

l7. In a mechanical stoker, an elevator, ahopper, a chute resting on thehopper, means fo'rhinging the chute upon the upper end of the elevator,and means for automatically oscillating the chute.

. 18. In a mechanical stoker, an elevator, a divided hopper, anautomatically oscillated chute resting on the hopper, means for hing.-

ing the chute upon the upper end of the elevator, and a movable fueldeflecting plate at] the discharge end of the chute adjustable todeflect the fuel into either portion of said hopper. r

19. Ina mechanical stoker, an elevator, a hopper, a hinged chutemountedat-the upper end of the elevator and having a hinged portion deliveringinto the hopper, and means for oscillating the chute, located at thehinged end thereof. Y

20. In a mechanical stoker, a divided hopper, a chute having itsdischarge end slid- .ingly mounted on the hopper and provided with adiverter near its discharge end mov- 7 able to deflect the fuel intoeither portion of said-hopper, a cross bar above the side walls of thechute between said diverter and the receiving end of the chute, andmeans for oscillating said chute. I

21; In a meohanicalstoker, a divided hopper, a chute having itsdischarge end slidingly mounted onthe hopper and provided with a pivoteddiverter near its discharge end movable to deflect the fuel into eitherportion of said hopper, a cross bar above the side walls of the chutebetween said diverter and the receivin end of the chute, and means foroscillatmg said chute.

22. In a mechanical stoker, a revoluble distributer, a hopper over thesame a chute having its discharge end supported over said hopper, meansfor oscillating the same,

and a roller upon which the free end of the.

chute is mounted to oscillate.

' 23. In a mechanical stoker, a revoluble distributer, a hopper mountedthereover, a chute, means for oscillating the same, a hopper and aroller on the hopper on which the free end of the chute is supported,the free end of said chute being hinged.

24. In a mechanical stoker, 'a' conveyer, a hopper, an interposedoscillatory chute having one end slidingly supported upon the hopper andthe other end disposed beneath the upper end of said conveyer, a rotarydistributer b'eneath said hopper, and means for actuating thedistributer, conveyer and chute simultaneously.

25. In a mechanical'stoker, a hopper, a tender, a substantiallyvertically disposed conveyer disposed'at the forward end thereof, meansfor actuating the. conveyer, a pivotally mounted chute above said hopperhaving one end slidably supported upon the hopper, and connections foragitating thesame by the conVeyer-actuating means.

26. In a mechanical stoker, the combination of a furnace having a firedoor opening a fire door for said opening hinged to the furnace front toswing laterally, a substantially .vertically disposed conveyer, ahopper, an interposed chute pivotally mounted above said hopper with itsfree end slid-' ingly supported on the hopper, a distributer casing, anda rotary distributer carried thereby to swing upwardly against thefurnacefront. when the fire door is opened,

whereby the same may be moved to allow of hand firing, and means forcontinuously rotating the distributer. I

27. Ina mechanical stoker, a

ofthe longitudinal axis'of the distributor, means for revolving thesame, a substanreversible rotary distributer with partition transversetially vertically disposed eonveyer' ac tuated from said means, andmeans for throwing the conveyor out of operation to stop' the feed offuel to'the'distributerand allowing 5 the dist'ributer to revolve.

28. In a mechanical Stoker, a reversiblerotary distributer, comprising ahub, arms radiating therefrom, rigid bars carried by the outer ends ofsaid arms parallel with the o hub, fuel distributing means on the outerends 'ofsaid bars, those on each bar being oppositely disposed, andplates 7 at right angles to said hub and connecting adjoiningbarsadjacent the center of, the leng&of"

5 said bars.

' 29. In --a mechanical stoker, a reversible rotary distributer,comprising a hub, arms radiating therefrom, bars-carried by the outerends of said arms parallel with the i hub, platesatright angles .to saidhub and 2) connecting adjoining bars [adjacent the center of the lengthof said bars, and plates removably mounted u on the outer ends of saidbars and angular y disposed with their outer surfaces angularly,disposed in-oppo- 5 site directions. Signed by, meat Washington C. thisQth day of November 1909.

